Last year, SOSAZ warned lawmakers that Gov. Ducey’s 2022 universal ESA voucher expansion would bankrupt our state. Last week, the Joint Legislative Budget Committee (JLBC), which provides the Legislature with nonpartisan fiscal analysis, reported the universal ESA expansion has already racked up $200 million in entirely unbudgeted costs. They project these costs will balloon to $376 million by 2024 — a figure 700% larger than their original estimate. The JLBC also says the Arizona Department of Education has no way to pay for this shortfall and will require $200 million in supplemental funding this year – and growing!
Last year’s legislature irresponsibly passed the nation’s largest voucher program and completely failed to budget for it. Where all this unbudgeted funding will come from, no one knows. Reach out to lawmakers today! Let them know you are watching, and demand better for Arizona students.
SOS AZ has created a one-click email ready to send to our lawmakers.
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